The vine-covered limestone plateau between the Garonne and Dordogne Rivers east of Bordeaux is known as l’Entre-deux-Mers, the area ‘between the two seas’! The Roger Lapébie Greenway takes you amidst vineyards, via the east bank of the Garonne, to the great wine city. Cross the Pont de Pierre, the town’s oldest bridge, for the historic quarters of St-Michel and St-Jean. Bordeaux is a great place to explore by bike before continuing on the Scandibérique. This beautifully modernized town merits a cultural break of several days. Once you’ve admired your reflection, together with that of this handsome city, in the mirrored pool beside the quays one last time, it’s time to head south for the landscapes of Gascony’s Landes, including the largest man-made forest in Western Europe.

This Scandibérique stage is associated with luscious ruby reds, as you cross the dense vineyards of the St-Emilion area, or Jurisdiction, a UNESCO World Heritage Site! The wines here age extremely well, turning darker with age. Wander around St-Emilion’s spectacular, steep, ramparted streets before crossing the Dordogne River. You then climb through more vineyards to join the Roger Lapébie Greenway. At the spot where you join this beautiful path for non-motorized traffic, take care to turn right towards Créon to then carry on smoothly towards Bordeaux; if you turn left, you head off towards the town of La Réole and the Canal des 2 Mers à Vélo cycle route… but that’s a completely different cycling adventure!